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Ganapath
Ganapath
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Ganapath: A Hero is Born
Theatrical release poster
Directed byVikas Bahl
Written byVikas Bahl
Produced by
Starring
CinematographySudhakar Reddy Yakkanti
Edited byRitesh Soni
Music bySongs:
Vishal Mishra
Amit Trivedi
White Noise Studios
Dr. Zeus
Background Score:
Salim–Sulaiman
Production
companies
Distributed byPVR Inox Pictures
Release date
  • 20 October 2023 (2023-10-20)
Running time
133 minutes[1]
CountryIndia
LanguageHindi
Budget₹200 crore[2]
Box office₹13.38 crore[3]

Ganapath: A Hero is Born is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language dystopian sports action film written and directed by Vikas Bahl, who also produced the film in association with Jackky Bhagnani, Vashu Bhagnani and Deepshikha Deshmukh. It stars Tiger Shroff in a dual role alongside Kriti Sanon, Elli AvrRam and Rahman, while Amitabh Bachchan appears in a cameo appearance.

The film was announced in November 2020 and underwent a long, heavy pre-production stage. Principal photography commenced in November 2021 and wrapped up in February 2023 with filming taking place in United Kingdom, Ladakh and Mumbai.

Ganapath was released theatrically on 20 October 2023 and received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics and became a box office bomb.

Plot

[edit]

In the year 2070, a destructive war leaves the world divided by a towering wall, with the rich people residing in a city called Silver City led by the Dalini, while the poor people survives in a destroyed city and struggles for basic necessities as it was controlled by the Silver City.

Meanwhile, Guddu resides in the Silver City and works for Dalini's henchmen John, who conducts boxing matches and earns money through the bets placed by the rich people. One day, John tells Guddu to take Dimple, John's girlfriend, to a nightclub as he is busy on a meeting. Dimple gets physical with Guddu, where John catches them red-handed and buries them alive. Guddu miraculously survives and Kaizad asks him to move away to the city of poor people and meet Shiva, a combat trainer.

Guddu learns that he is actually Ganapath, a legendary saviour of the poor people, as predicted by Maharishi Dalapathi. Guddu receives combat training under Shiva and his confidante Jassi, where he ultimately embraces himself as Ganapath and deceives John, Dalini and their henchmen into believing that he is on their side. Trained as an accomplished fighter, Guddu wins matches for them, while pretending to Jassi and Shiva that he is uninterested in their cause.

After securing victories in most of his matches, Guddu persuades John and Dalini's associate to bet their money on his opponent in the final match as Guddu plans to lose intentionally in the match. Guddu also convinces them to allow the poor to wager their savings on this match, where John and his associates to profit further by snatching money from the poor people, leaving them in a miserable state. However, this is Guddu's way of exacting revenge as he intends to follow a different course.

While releasing Jassi from her confinement, Guddu discreetly instructs her to encourage the poor people to place their savings on the match. Guddu executes the plan, which he shared with John, easily dominating his opponent in the first two rounds. In the third round, Guddu feigns defeat, but realises that John has placed his and Dalini's money on the opponent. Guddu stages a comeback and defeats his opponent, causing substantial losses to John and Dalini. Guddu subsequently reveals his actions on television, watched by both the poor and rich people, and confesses that Shiva is his biological father.

Guddu tells that he has given a chance for the poor people to challenge the rich people with their winnings, while donning the mantle of Ganapath. Guddu also challenges Dalini to reveal himself, where Dalini reveals himself as Guddu's doppelgänger and it is revealed that Dalini is actually a form of AI. Guddu challenges Dalini to a fight, thus hinting a sequel titled Ganapath 2: Rise of the Hero.

Cast

[edit]

Production

[edit]

Development

[edit]

The film was announced on 6 November 2020 by Pooja Entertainment, to be directed by Aditya Kumar starring Tiger Shroff.[10] It was originally supposed to release in parts, and had a working title of Ganapath: Part 1,[11] though this plan was abandoned and the film was re-titled Ganapath: A Hero is Born.[12] Though a sequel is still teased at the ending of the film titled Ganapath: Part 2: Rise of the Hero.[13] The film marks the collaboration of Sanon and Shroff after nine years since their Hindi film debut in Heropanti (2014).[14] It was produced by Pooja Entertainment in association of GoodCo.

Filming

[edit]

The principal photography began on 2 November 2021 in United Kingdom.[15][16] In May 2022, the final schedule was held in Ladakh with some additional scenes being shot in February 2023.[17] The film's shooting was wrapped up by August 2023.[18]

Soundtrack

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Ganapath
Soundtrack album by
Released13 October 2023[19]
GenreFeature film soundtrack
Length22:55
LanguageHindi
LabelZee Music Company
Official audio
Ganapath – Full Album on YouTube

The music of the film is composed by Vishal Mishra, Amit Trivedi, White Noise Studios and Dr. Zeus. The background score is composed by Salim-Sulaiman. The first single titled "Jai Ganesha" was released on 18 September 2023 on the occasion of Ganesh Chaturthi.[20] The second single titled "Hum Aaye Hain" was released on 5 October 2023.[21] On 13 October 2023, the entire album consisting was released by Zee Music Company.[22]

Track listing
No.TitleLyricsMusicSinger(s)Length
1."Hum Aaye Hain"Priya SaraiyaWhite Noise StudiosSiddharth Basrur, Prakriti Kakar3:30
2."Jai Ganesha"Akshay TripathiVishal MishraVishal Mishra3:36
3."Sara Zamana"Priya SaraiyaWhite Noise StudiosBenny Dayal, Prakriti Kakar3:18
4."Lafda Kar Le"Swanand KirkireAmit TrivediAmit Trivedi, Nikhita Gandhi5:02
5."Time 2 Shine"Priceless, Dr Zeus, Roach Killa, Ikka SinghDr ZeusPriceless, Roach Killa, Dr Zeus3:34
6."Hum Aaye Hain" (Version 2)Priya SaraiyaWhite Noise StudiosMika Singh, Shilpa Rao3:55
Total length:22:55

Release

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Theatrical

[edit]

The film was initially supposed to release on 23 December 2022, coinciding with Christmas Eve, but was later postponed and was released theatrically on 20 October 2023, during Dussehra, in Hindi, along with the dubbed versions in Tamil, Telugu, Malayalam and Kannada languages.[11]

Home media

[edit]

Reception

[edit]

Critical response

[edit]

Ganapath received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics.[23] On the review aggregator website Rotten Tomatoes, 18% of 11 critics' reviews are positive, with an average rating of 4.5/10.[24][25] The film received negative reviews from audiences.[26]

Bollywood Hungama gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "Ganapath – A Hero is Born fails to impress due to a clichéd storyline, poor VFX and predictable second half."[27] Renuka Vyavahare of The Times of India gave 2.5/5 stars and wrote "In a world where the rich are getting richer and poor, poorer, Ganapath imitates our hard-hitting reality but feels like a huge potential wasted."[28]

Avinash Lohana of Pinkvilla gave 2/5 stars and wrote "This futuristic drama headlined by Tiger Shroff and Kriti Sanon needed to do some solid work in the past before bringing it to the audience."[29] Saibal Chatterjee of NDTV gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Ganapath is painfully pea-brained pulp that makes a meal of a terribly thin storyline."[30]

Bhavna Agarwal of India Today gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "'Ganapath' offers absolutely no respite. If you expect it to get better in the second half as Gen Z are often heard saying ‘you are in delulu’."[31] India Today later included the film as one of the five worst Hindi films of 2023.[32] Hiren Kotwani of Mid-Day gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "What makes Ganapath different from the saviour-hero films of yore is that director Bahl has tried to make it look like the desi Mad Max of sorts, albeit with unimpressive design and poor packaging".[33]

Swetha Ramakrishnan of OTTplay gave 1.5/5 stars and wrote "Ganapath is a dated Hindi film with an identity crisis. It is a scary mish-mash of tropes “borrowed" from films like Hunger Games, Mad Max, Dune and KGF.[34] Shubhra Gupta of The Indian Express gave 1/5 stars and wrote "What comes as a surprise is just how terrible this film is, with practically no redeeming feature in its nearly two and half hours run-time."[35] She later included the film as one of the worst films of 2023.[36]

Anuj Kumar of The Hindu wrote "Tiger Shroff kicks and moves the way only he can, but the Vikas Bahl film doesn’t have the chutzpah to use his talent."[37] Monika Rawal Kukreja of Hindustan Times wrote "Watch Ganapath if you can limit your idea of watching a film to some brilliant dance and action moves, and don't expect anything beyond this."[38]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia
from Grokipedia
is a 2023 Indian Hindi-language dystopian action film written and directed by . It stars as the titular vigilante, alongside Kriti Sanon and . Set in a post-war future divided by class strife, the story depicts Ganapath's mission to dismantle a criminal syndicate controlling the oppressed underclass through underground fighting rings and exploitation. The film emphasizes high-octane action sequences and choreography, drawing influences from futuristic sci-fi tropes, but critics highlighted deficiencies in narrative coherence, quality, and overall execution. Released theatrically on 20 October 2023, it garnered poor audience and , with an rating of 2.6/10 and score of 18%. Commercially, Ganapath proved a significant disappointment, collecting approximately ₹9.7 nett in and ₹13.38 worldwide against a reported exceeding ₹200 , marking it as one of the year's major bombs. No major awards or achievements followed its release, though it positioned itself as the start of a potential franchise. In 2025, minor production disputes emerged, including claims of unpaid dues by Faraz Khan against the producers.

Plot

Summary

Ganapath: A Hero Is Born is set in a dystopian future where society is sharply divided between the affluent enclave of Silver City, controlled by powerful elites, and the impoverished outskirts plagued by corporate dominance and survival struggles. The narrative unfolds amid underground mixed martial arts fights that serve as both entertainment for the elite and a desperate means of livelihood for outsiders, highlighting economic disparity and exploitation. The , Ganapath, emerges as a skilled driven by a personal quest to challenge the criminal syndicate that enforces this oppressive order. His journey involves forging uneasy alliances and navigating betrayals while confronting formidable adversaries in high-stakes combats, rooted in a tied to loss and . The film traces Ganapath's arc from his origins to intense confrontations, positioning him as a prophesied figure destined to bridge the divide between , though the story concludes as the first installment of an intended multi-part without full resolution.

Cast

Principal cast

stars as Ganapath, also referred to as Guddu, embodying the of a relentless hero proficient in within a dystopian .
portrays Jassi, serving as a key ally who contributes to the central conflict's dynamics alongside the .
features as Maharishi Dalapathi, representing a actor's inclusion in a authoritative power-structure figure, delivered in a limited but pivotal capacity.

Production

Development

Vikas Bahl conceived Ganapath: A Hero Is Born as a dystopian set in a post-pandemic future, with the project first announced on November 5, 2020, positioning in the lead role within a exploring and vigilante origins. Bahl, transitioning from character-focused dramas like Queen and Super 30, developed the screenplay during the production of his prior film Goodbye, emphasizing a blend of high-stakes action and thematic reflections on inequality in a hypothetical calamitous era. The film was structured as the first installment of a two-part franchise, spanning the protagonist's evolution from 2030 to 2040 across a decade of turmoil, with focusing on world-building elements like futuristic and combat sequences. Production was led by —headed by , , and —in association with Good Co. and Bahl himself, scaling the budget to approximately ₹200 to accommodate ambitious demands. This included designing a expansive dystopian environment with over 500 vehicles, drones, and weaponry prototypes to evoke a gritty, post-apocalyptic aesthetic.

Filming

Principal photography for Ganapath: A Hero Is Born began in November 2021, starting with a three-month schedule in the . The production utilized diverse locations including , (such as the Harbour Approach Tunnel), , and to capture the film's dystopian setting and action elements. A significant portion of the action sequences, including intense fights and chases, was filmed in during May 2022, focusing on an abandoned town above Lamayuru. These shoots faced severe environmental challenges, such as erratic weather, low oxygen levels, and unfriendly conditions that tested the cast and crew, including and . Director highlighted the dedication required to complete these demanding sequences despite the harsh terrain. The overall shoot extended over nearly two years, wrapping in August 2023, which Shroff described as his most physically demanding project to date, emphasizing the rigorous action choreography and stunt work. No major delays from external factors like pandemics or strikes were reported in production accounts.

Post-production

Post-production for Ganapath: A Hero Is Born involved extensive work to construct the film's dystopian future setting, including CGI-rendered cityscapes and augmented action sequences. The production relied heavily on digital enhancements, with handled primarily by Indian studios such as Number 9 VFX and Maadfam Studios, alongside contributions from UK-based VFX teams and processing by After Studio. Editing was overseen by Ritesh Soni, who focused on synchronizing the high-octane fight with the narrative pacing, aiming for a cohesive flow in the film's action-heavy structure. Despite the reported budget exceeding 200 rupees, the VFX integration faced significant challenges, resulting in visibly subpar rendering that critics attributed to inadequate oversight and reliance on low-quality assets, such as potentially unlicensed elements in key establishing shots. The final polish, completed in preparation for the October 20, 2023, theatrical release, highlighted persistent issues in achieving seamless dystopian visuals, with reviewers noting tacky and jarring transitions that undermined the intended futuristic aesthetic. These technical shortcomings contributed to broader perceptions of production inefficiencies, though specific overruns tied to delays were not publicly detailed beyond general critiques of mismatched expenditure and output quality.

Soundtrack

Track listing

The soundtrack album for Ganapath: A Hero Is Born consists of five tracks composed by , Vishal Mishra, , and White Noise Studios. It was released digitally on October 13, 2023. The lead track "Hum Aaye Hain", composed by White Noise Studios, was issued as a single on October 5, 2023.
No.TitleSinger(s)
1"Hum Aaye Hain",
2"Jai Ganesha"Vishal Mishra
3"Sara Zamana",
4"Lafda Kar Le",
5"Time 2 Shine", Ikka, Priceless, Roach Killa

Promotion

Marketing campaigns

The marketing campaign for Ganapath: A Hero Is Born emphasized the film's dystopian action theme and the star power of leads , , and through targeted activations, promotional events, and teaser content drops. An initial teaser was released on February 22, 2023, showcasing Shroff in an underground wrestling scene to highlight his physical prowess and the film's gritty aesthetic, setting an early tone for audience anticipation. This was followed by a promotional push in September 2023, including posters and announcements tied to Shroff's action-hero persona, with the main teaser delayed to September 29 to avoid clashing with competing releases. Public appearances and fan engagements formed a core strategy, leveraging Shroff's appeal to action enthusiasts via live events. On October 16, 2023, Shroff and the team launched an action-focused promo at Mumbai's Gaiety Galaxy cinema, featuring intense combat sequences with Sanon to immerse attendees in the film's world. A trailer launch press conference followed on October 17 in Mumbai, where Shroff made a high-impact entry to underscore the movie's spectacle. Additional events included a Delhi trailer unveiling around October 12, amplifying regional buzz through direct fan interactions. The campaign innovated with a global fan-driven trailer launch involving over 200,000 participants from the stars' followings, fostering organic hype via social shares. Social media efforts integrated sequences from the to blend with promotion, alongside celebrity endorsements and collaborations that spotlighted the cast's dystopian narrative. Special promos, such as clips released on October 18 featuring Shroff and Sanon, were timed pre-release to sustain momentum without delving into full trailers. These tactics prioritized visual spectacle and star-driven virality over extensive partnerships, aligning with the film's modest pre-release buildup focused on core action demographics.

Trailers

The first teaser for Ganapath: A Hero Is Born was released on September 30, 2023, across platforms including , providing initial glimpses of the film's dystopian world-building, high-octane action sequences, and starring cast including as the titular vigilante, , and . Running approximately 1 minute, the teaser emphasized futuristic visuals and without revealing major plot details, aiming to generate early anticipation ahead of the film's Dussehra release. The official full trailer followed on October 9, 2023, unveiled by the production team on and channels, with a runtime of 2 minutes and 28 seconds. It focused on the hero's mission to dismantle a criminal empire in a post-apocalyptic setting, highlighting intense fight scenes, VFX-driven environments, and character dynamics between Shroff's relentless fighter, Sanon's ally figure, and Bachchan's authoritative role, while teasing themes of vengeance and . This strategic mid-October drop, timed 11 days before the October 20 theatrical debut, sought to capitalize on festive season hype in , garnering millions of views shortly after launch and sparking discussions on the film's ambitious action spectacle.

Release

Theatrical

Ganapath: A Hero Is Born was released theatrically worldwide on October 20, 2023, coinciding with the release of Yaariyan 2, creating a direct box office clash between the two Hindi-language films. The film received a 'UA' certification from the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) on October 17, 2023, permitting viewing by audiences of all ages with parental guidance for children under 12. To broaden its appeal in the Hindi-dominated market, the film was dubbed in regional languages including Tamil, Telugu, , and . Distribution in spanned approximately 2,800 screens, with an additional 800 screens overseas, targeting urban multiplexes suitable for its action-oriented content. International releases were limited in select markets such as and .

Home media

Ganapath: A Hero Is Born secured digital streaming rights with following its theatrical release, though the online premiere faced significant delays reportedly stemming from deficiencies in quality that prompted the platform to reconsider or postpone distribution. As of mid-2024, the exact digital release date remained unconfirmed in public announcements, extending the window for ancillary revenue generation amid the film's underwhelming performance. The satellite television rights were acquired by , which broadcast the world television premiere on May 26, 2024, at 12:00 PM IST. This airing marked the film's initial foray into broadcast home viewing, targeting audiences beyond theaters and streaming. No official releases, such as DVD or Blu-ray editions, have been announced or distributed as of October 2025.

Box office

Budget and earnings

Ganapath was produced on a budget of approximately ₹200 (US$24 million), encompassing substantial expenditures on visual effects, action sequences, and remuneration for lead actors including and . The film earned ₹2.5 nett in on its , October 20, 2023, followed by a sharp decline with an opening weekend total of ₹6.9 nett domestically. Its final nett collection stood at ₹9.7 , with worldwide gross reaching ₹13.38 , including ₹1.83 from overseas markets. These figures represent recovery of under 7% of the from theatrical earnings alone, confirming Ganapath as a commercial relative to its high costs and expectations for a sci-fi action featuring marquee stars.

Reception

Critical response

Ganapath received mixed-to-negative reviews from critics, who praised elements of its action choreography while predominantly criticizing its narrative weaknesses, subpar , and lack of coherent world-building in the dystopian setting. On , the holds a 2.6/10 rating based on over 10,000 user votes, though professional critiques aligned with this low assessment. Rotten Tomatoes aggregated a 18% approval rating from 11 reviews, with consensus highlighting the 's to deliver redeeming features in its 135-minute runtime. Critics frequently faulted the clichéd and predictable storyline, describing it as derivative of Western sci-fi tropes without original execution. awarded 2.5/5 stars, noting the film's clichéd storyline, poor VFX, and predictable second half that undermined its potential. The Times of India echoed this with a 2.5/5 rating, stating that a solid concept was marred by shoddy execution, resulting in wasted potential. Hindustan Times characterized the premise as "silly" with "no head or tail," merely stitching together fight scenes and numbers under the guise of . Amid the criticisms, some reviewers acknowledged strengths in the stunt work and Tiger Shroff's physical prowess, which provided sporadic highlights in an otherwise incoherent narrative. The Hindu review pointed out that, despite the absence of a compelling storyline and credible execution, Shroff's efforts offered a "supple body" to the film, though it lacked a "beating heart." deemed the film "terrible" overall but implied the action sequences were among the few attempts at engagement in a production with "practically no redeeming feature." These positives, however, were insufficient to offset the dominant view of Ganapath as a and poorly realized effort.

Audience response

Ganapath experienced a sharp decline in performance following its , with collections dropping from approximately ₹3 on October 20, 2023, to ₹2.25 on October 21, attributed to negative word-of-mouth among viewers. The film's overall weekend earnings totaled around ₹6.9 nett in , reflecting audience disengagement as discussions on platforms like highlighted overhyped expectations clashing with perceived generic storytelling and underdeveloped world-building. Social media reactions on (now X) revealed a divide, with some action enthusiasts praising Shroff's acrobatic fight sequences and high-octane stunts as visual highlights, while broader feedback criticized the patchy script, illogical plotting, and sluggish pacing that undermined the dystopian premise. threads echoed this sentiment, portraying the film as a for failing to deliver coherent narrative logic despite its ambitious visuals, contributing to minimal sustained buzz post-release. Post-theatrical metrics indicate limited audience retention, with user ratings averaging 2.6/10 on from over 10,000 votes and no evidence of significant streaming viewership spikes on platforms where it became available, suggesting an absence of cult appeal or enduring fan engagement.

Thematic analysis

Ganapath explores themes of socioeconomic inequality in a dystopian setting, depicting a world bifurcated between affluent elites in controlled enclaves and impoverished masses exploited through rigged underground combat arenas. This class antagonism drives the protagonist's quest for vengeance and , framing as a response to systemic exploitation by a criminal-corporate syndicate led by figures like Dalini, who profit from the underclass's desperation. The narrative posits corporate overreach as the primary antagonist, with opulent "Peaceland" contrasting the squalor of "Scamville," underscoring motifs of disenfranchisement and the to upend entrenched power. Heroism emerges as a to collective inertia, embodied in archetype of Ganapath, whose individual prowess—honed through and unyielding resolve—dismantles the empire without reliance on . This prioritizes personal agency and self-made redemption over institutionalized reform, portraying the lone warrior's arc from reluctant fighter to liberator as emblematic of innate prevailing against odds. Such serves as a strength, resisting tropes of salvation through unified and instead validating in environments void of lawful recourse. Critically, the film's thematic framework simplifies causal pathways to , attributing inequality to villainous and control mechanisms rather than dissecting antecedent failures like eroded property rights or distortions from unchecked . By personifying systemic issues in charismatic antagonists, it evades rigorous inquiry into how missteps or institutional breakdowns might engender such divides, favoring archetypal over explorations of market dynamics or lapses that historically amplify disparities. This oversight limits its engagement with realism, reducing complex social fractures to binary elite-versus-masses conflicts devoid of nuanced . Within the dystopian action genre, Ganapath perpetuates the invincible hero paradigm, emphasizing physical dominance and amid visual excess, yet its execution yields minimal innovation or provocation for broader discourse on agency versus . The absence of lingering interpretive debates post-release underscores its reinforcement of formulaic , prioritizing adrenaline-fueled without challenging viewers to reconcile heroic feats with real-world constraints on solitary reform.

References

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